On Writing: Running out of fuel

I'm sure you've heard what they say about writing and reading, right? If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write. What they don't say though is this: if the book you read don't inspire you, then writing is dragging.

I don't know if it's just me and my bad mood for reading, but recently the books I choose don't have that sparkle of inspiration I need. Thank God I read Gone Girl and there was a wildfire to keep me going, but now that the book has finished, the smoldering fire is not enough. I feel like I'm running out of fuel.

When I read a book that thrills me, a book that hooks me and blows my mind, the need to write increases. The more I read the more I want to write and all the walls I faced before seem to disappear. 

It's just that when I read a book that moves me, I feel like my subconscious is building up my story while I read. Does this make any sense?

The book I'm currently reading doesn't fall under the great inspirational story I need, but I notice that it helps me move my story forward. I'm just impatient and a little bit spoiled from Flynn's books, I guess.

But for what I am absolutely positive is that reading the genre you're writing is rule number one. Not because you will copy stuff, you don't want that, no one wants that. It's just while reading a story familiar to the one you're writing, you get to see things that you haven't thought. You notice details and facts that you may have forgotten and it's like doing a research by reading and enjoying a similar book than the one you want to write. You experience similar feelings with those you want to cause to your readers and if you add these things up together ... you grow.

You grow as a reader because you spot the things the author is planting, wanting to misguide you, confuse you, and you also grow as a writer because you get the hint of what works and what doesn't. 

You acquire a new perspective.

So my tip on writing today is this:

Pick a book in the same genre you're writing. See if it can light up the fireworks.

If it does find time to devour it and time to write. If it doesn't pick another one or try to find the inspiring parts of the story you chose. There's always something in there to trigger your mind.

Happy Monday!